
Photo courtesy of VisitSarasota.com
Sarasota Florida is the Ideal Vacation Location
Visiting Sarasota has never been easier with eight new airlines offering more than 25 direct flights into the SRQ Airport. Sarasota County encompasses nearly 40 miles of shoreline and includes the City of Sarasota, Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, City of Englewood, Nokomis, City of North Port, Osprey, and the City of Venice. We hope that you enjoy this Sarasota Florida is the Ideal Vacation Location post.
Beyond Sarasota County’s Gulf Coast beaches lies a haven of arts and culture, eclectic festivals, and excellent dining. Whether you’re traveling together with your family, planning a couple’s getaway, or just traveling on your own – Sarasota literally has something to offer everyone. Sarasota offers a variety of new ways to experience the destination either for the first time or a return trip because you just can’t fit everything there is to do there in one visit.
Arts and Culture
- The epicenter of culture on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sarasota County is home to the only professional ballet, opera, and orchestra companies (Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Opera, and the Sarasota Orchestra).
- Sarasota has more than ten theatres, 13 stages, and the State’s Art Museum – – Culture Hound Known as Florida’s Cultural Coast®.
- Sarasota also boasts a prevalent visual arts scene. The art scene is as diverse as it is vibrant on Florida’s Cultural Coast. From posh galleries housing the works of Renaissance and Baroque Masters to quirky grottos piled with one-of-a-kind upcycled “salvage art” finds, art connoisseurs of all tastes discover a feast for the senses in Sarasota.
CoolToday Park and the Atlanta Braves
Sarasota is now the home of the Atlanta Braves Spring Training Facility at CoolToday Park. Individuals and families can come and watch spring training games and enjoy the variety of offerings at the concession stand at affordable prices.

Photo courtesy of VisitSarasota.com

Photo courtesy of VisitSarasota.com
The Ringling Circus Museum
Sarasota is known as the “Circus Capital of the World,” thanks to the legacy of circus magnate John Ringling. The museum has many offerings designed to honor the past, present, and future of the circus. The Ringling, the Circus Arts Conservatory (home to Circus Sarasota), and the Circus Ring of Fame on St. Armands Circle are examples of the circus’s lasting impression on the area.
Calling All Foodies!
Fresh and local are at the cornerstone of most dining options in Sarasota. There are a variety of restaurants and Award-Winning Chefs who focus on farm-to-table, sea-to-table, gluten-free, vegan, and locally sourced / sustainable sources.
Sarasota has one of the largest groups of independent restaurants and hosts the most restaurants per capita for small cities. Their award-winning restaurants overlook beaches, skylines, and downtowns, and their many food and wine events are accompanied by local brews and craft cocktails.
Conde Nast Travelers Readers’ Choice Awards named Sarasota as one of the Best Food Cities in the US in 2016.

Seared Faroe Island Salmon Salad at Muse. Muse at the Ringling Museum is a restaurant not to be missed! It is an upscale restaurant featuring local cuisine with an international flare.
Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week
Every summer, Sarasota hosts “Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week,” giving patrons the opportunity to taste Sarasota’s diverse culinary excellence at bargain prices. Visit www.savorsarasota.org for more information.
Forks & Corks Food and Wine Festival
Forks & Corks Food and Wine Festival is an event that is on my travel list. It is a multi-day annual event presented by the Sarasota-Manatee Originals, a group of local restaurants. The festival includes interactive food and wine seminars at various restaurants and a Grand Tasting at The Ringling Museum.
#VisitSarasota
Theirs is so much more to Sarasota! Over 100 shops (including two malls, boutique shops, and outlets). For the sports and nature lovers, there is fishing, golfing, kayaking, two state parks (great for camping hiking), and bike and running trails.
We hope that you are inspired by this Sarasota Florida is the Ideal Vacation Location post. Happy travels!
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This post was written by Autumn Murray and originally appeared on Divine Lifestyle.
We were hosted by Visit Sarasota and not compensated to write this post.
As always, the views expressed in my post are my own.
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31 Comments. Leave new
I would definitely love to visit this place. Food looks amazing. It’s a perfect place to go for a nice holiday.
I hope you get the chance one day!
That looks like a great place to visit. I bet it’s even better during the summer!
It really is! The beaches are amazing!
I’ve been so many times to Florida that and I even have family there and I’ve never been to Sarasota. I would love to visit there some day with my family.
I hope you get the chance to visit Florida sometime soon!
I love Florida, I went here about 5 years ago but only for a short time so i would love to see more
I love Florida too! Sarasota has so much to offer and I hope you get to travel there one day.
Wow you are correct, I think these are just the things that I am looking for in a great vacation! Great vibe, nice weather, sunny days, great food, quiet environment and amazing view; I would love to go there and enjoy a great weekend with people I love.
Knycx Journeying
Thank you! I can’t wait to return!
I like Forida because I find it pretty. I loved your post here. I think, Sarasota is one of the best places to live. All around a great place to be. I’ve never met a mean soul while in town, and everybody is open to talk. Sarasota has the best beaches as well, it is quite easy to find a nice place to relax.
Thank you! I can’t wait for a Florida beach vacation!
I have heard that Sarasota, Florida has great tennis facilities. I hope to visit it. Unfortunately, I have not had the chance to travel to that side of the United States.
I hope you are able to travel to Sarasota and experience all it has to offer one day soon!
I have been in Florida for a good portion of my life. I haven’t been to Sarasota though. I’d love to go!
You totally should! So much to see and do.
I never considered Sarasota for a family vacation but it looks like it’s a great option! It’s also closer to us so we could avoid flight expenses. Thanks for the idea!
You are welcome! I hope you and your family love Sarasota as much as I do!
I would love to visit Sarasota, FL, and experience their wine festival and great restaurants. Fingers crossed.
I hope you are able to one day soon!
This is really an ideal vacation destination. I will definitely put this on my next travel lists.
I hope you enjoy it!
I would love to visit Florida one day. Sarasota looks like a place I wouldn’t want to leave!
There are lots of people in my province who winter in Florida! I can appreciate the appeal. It sounds and looks like a lovely place! Thank you so much for the travel inspiration!
i lived in orlando for a year when i was working at WDW but never had the opportunity to go to Sarasota. I love the fine arts and entertainment so I know I would have loved visiting the opera, orchestra and theatre.
I have never been to Sarasota, but it looks like a great place to take my kids!
Clearly I need to go back! I haven’t been since I was 13 years old and I barely remember a thing!
Sounds like restaurant week is unique. That salmon looks delicious.
We’ve been to Florida tons of times, but we’ve never been to Sarasota. I can’t believe we never went there before. Looks like we’ve been missing out.
It’s not too late to change that and book a family vacation there soon! You and your family will love it!
Sarasota is a great place. We’ve been there a few times. It often gets overshadowed by Orlando and Miami, but I’m a HUGE Sarasota fan.